(Week 4) political participation

Chapter 7Political

Participation

Copyright © 2011, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Forms of Participation• Political participation

– Activity that has the intent or effect of influencing government action

– Most common form — voting – Other methods of participation

• Election campaigning • Contacting public officials • Joining and/or supporting interest groups • Unconventional political acts



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Patterns of Participation• Factors That Influence Participation:

– Personal Resources– Psychological Engagement– Voter Mobilization– Community Involvement

• Who Participates: – Income – Age– Race/Ethnicity– Gender



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Trends in Voter Turnout– Voting age population

(VAP): Number of citizens legally qualified to vote.

– Voting eligible population (VEP): Number of residents over the age of 18.

Trends in Voter TurnoutVoter Turnout in the United States: 2004 and 2008

presidential elections suggest that the U.S. is experiencing a voting revival.

- Massive voter mobilization efforts- GOTV campaigns- Increase in battleground states

- High public interest in the elections- Important national decisions on the war on

terror and the declining economy; - hot-button issues such as gay marriage,

healthcare reform. Copyright © 2011, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.


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Participation Rates in Comparative Perspective

• When compared to other industrialized democracies, the United States has – Relatively low-voter participation rates, but– Citizens tend to be more active than those in

other nations in some other areas of political participation.



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Does Low Turnout Matter?• Participation Bias• Characteristics of individuals who are more likely to

participate politically than others– Older– Employed– Better educated– Married– Own their homes– Attend church– Identify with a political party– Belong to a political organization– Identify with their ethnic group, particularly if they believe their

group suffers discrimination


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Does Low Turnout Matter?

• Increasing Voter Turnout– National Voter Registration

Act of 1993: also known as the Motor Voter Act.

– Allows people to register to vote when renewing their driver’s license.

– Increased the number of registered voters but did not increase voter turnout.


(Week 4) political participation

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